The Invisible Line

Infobox Album | Name = The Invisible Line
Type = Album
Artist = Temposhark

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Released = March 25th, 2008 (USA/Canada)
Recorded = 2007
Genre = Electronica/Alternative/Pop/Rock
Length = 45:45
Label = Paper and Glue in association with Defend Music (via Ryko in USA)
Producer = Sean McGhee, Guy Sigsworth
Guests = Imogen Heap, Sophie Solomon
Reviews =
* "Clash Magazine" (UK) Rating|3|5 [http://www.temposhark.com/site/press/]
* " The Guardian (UK) (Positive) [http://music.guardian.co.uk/newbands/story/0,,2252412,00.html]
* "NME" (UK) rating-10|7 [http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o222/glitterstars_photos/NMETemposharkreview15thMarch20082.jpg]
*"PopMatters" Rating|4|10 [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/53585/temposhark-the-invisible-line/ link]
* "URB Magazine" (US) Rating|5|5 [http://www.urb.com/promotions/next1000/profile.php?BandId=746] |

The Invisible Line is the debut album by UK band, Temposhark.

Temposhark's debut album was produced and recorded in London by rising producer Sean McGhee with two tracks produced by Frou Frou member Guy Sigsworth, who contributes "It's Better To Have Loved" and "Winter's Coming". The recording process ran from August 2006 until February 2007 [ [http://www.temposhark.com Temposhark-Home ] ] . The album will include many brand new songs alongside some tracks from their rare early EPs, but all the album tracks have been re-produced by McGhee and in some cases re-written with never-before-heard additional sections. The album includes a duet with Imogen Heap called "Not That Big". Whilst virtuoso violinist Sophie Solomon appears on tracks "Blame" and "Battleships".

It will be released in March 2008 on CD and digital download in the USA/Canada and later in the whole of Europe including UK, Germany and France [http://www.temposhark.com/site/releases/ Temposhark website - Releases section] . The digital version of the album, including a bonus track and PDF downloadable artwork, will also be available in the rest of Europe/Japan/Australia and New Zealand, from early March 2008. There are rumours of more releases including singles for "Knock Me Out" and "Blame", which was co-written with legendary producer Youth aka Martin Glover from Killing Joke.

In February 2007, Temposhark uploaded two brand new songs onto their MySpace.com profile from their debut album. The songs were "Don't Mess With Me" (a brand new song with lush string arrangements) and "Joy" (a new album version with a middle section previously unheard). On February 23rd 2007, Robert Diament of Temposhark mentioned in his blog that a new song called "Winter's Coming" would feature on the album and it was produced and co-written with Guy Sigsworth. [ [http://www.temposhark.com/site/blog/ Temposhark - Blog ] ] On March 15th 2007 at the South by Southwest 2007 festival, Temposhark announced on stage that their debut album was to be called "The Invisible Line". Robert Diament has said that the album title was inspired by controversial British artist Tracey Emin from passages in her books "Exploration Of The Soul" (1994) and "Strangeland" (2005) [http://zxlcreative.blogs.com/electroqueer/2008/01/eq-chat-with-te.html As mentioned by Diament in an interview dated 16th January 2008 "An artist I love called Tracey Emin wrote about her birth and invisible lines that connect the past, present and future in her book 'Exploration Of The Soul' and it really resonated with me, that idea."] ,

The album is released through singer Robert Diament's own record label, Paper and Glue, and licensed in the USA to Defend Music via Ryko.

In October 2007, Temposhark's song "Blame", taken from their forthcoming album, was nominated in the "Best International" category at the "Ontario Independent Music Awards" which take place in Toronto, Canada on November 15th 2007. [ [http://www.temposhark.com/site/news/detail.php?articleId=510 Temposhark - Releases: Temposhark nomintated in Ontario Independent Music Awards ] ]

On December 27 2007, Diament revealed that one of the earliest songs on the album was "Crime" written when the band first started in Brighton, where Busby was studying visual art and music at the time. Diament has spoken about that era of initial experimentation,

The album has now also been pre-released in USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan on iTunes.

In February 2008, Temposhark and their song "Blame" was announced as a finalist in the Pop/Top 40 category of the International Songwriting Competition (ISC). [ [http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm International Songwriting Competition - Contact ] ] "Blame" was chosen by a board of respected judges included Nelly Furtado, DJ Tiesto, Robert Smith of The Cure and Julian Casablancas of The Strokes. In April 2008, the song went on to win second place in the Pop/Top 40 category. [ [http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm International Songwriting Competition - Winners ] ]

In the same month, "The Invisible Line" was highlighted in The Guardian as a new band to watch article, described as "What if Kate Bush had shagged Marc Almond and spawned a monster that grew up listening to Violator? That's Temposhark, musically at any rate." [ [http://music.guardian.co.uk/newbands/story/0,,2252412,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=39 No 267: Temposhark | Music | Guardian Unlimited Music ] ]

In March 2008, the NME praised Temposhark's debut album with a positive review, "What if Trent Reznor was raised on the Pet Shop Boys rather than Einsturzende Neubauten? Think these dudes... they could be your new favourite band. 7 out of 10" [ [http://www.temposhark.com/site/news/detail.php?articleId=543 Temposhark - Releases: NME gives Temposhark's debut album the thumbs up! ] ]

The album debuted at number 20 in the iTunes electronic chart in the USA on Sunday 30th March 2008. [ [http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ Apple - iTunes - Download iTunes ] ]

Temposhark's animated music video to their single "Blame" was selected for the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2008. Directed by New York based artist Motomichi Nakamura, the video will be screened on 22nd June as part of the "Mirrorball" event focused on music video and music documentaries. [ [http://www.temposhark.com/site/news/detail.php?articleId=568 Temposhark - Releases: 'Blame' video screening at Edinburgh International Film Festival 2008 ] ]

On 27th June 2008, SXSW Click digital festival announced Temposhark's music video "Blame" in the top 3 finalists for the best music video of 2008. [ [http://sxswclick.com/watch/blame/ SXSWclick! ] ] At the end of July 2008, Temposhark were announced the winner of the Music Video category, and will therefore have their video screened at the prestigious 2009 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. [ [http://sxswclick.com/winners/ SXSWclick! ] ]

Temposhark's music video to "Blame" has also been shortlisted for the Portgual International Music Video Festival "ViMUS 2008" and will be screened in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal between 4th-7th September 2008. [http://festivalvimus.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/international-videoclips-competition.pdf]

The "Blame" video went on to be nominated for a Hollywood Music Award (ceremony in November 2008) whilst also being selected for screening at the San Francisco International Animation Festival (run by the San Francisco Film Society) and at the Holland Animation Film Festival 2008. [http://www.temposhark.com/site/news/detail.php?articleId=599]

On September 7th 2008, Temposhark's song "Knock Me Out" was played on the MTV Video Music Awards 2008. [http://www.temposhark.com/site/news/detail.php?articleId=599]

Track listing

# "Don't Mess With Me" – 3:23
# "Joy" – 3:20
# "Blame" – 4:04
# "It's Better To Have Loved" – 3:37
# "Not That Big" – 3:52
# "Knock Me Out" – 3:39
# "Crime" – 4:13
# "Battleships" – 3:56
# "Little White Lie" – 3:50
# "Invisible Ink (prelude)" – 0:39
# "Invisible Ink" – 4:27
# "Winter's Coming" – 3:54
# "Invisible Ink (reprise)" - 2:24 (Hidden Track)
# "Neon Question Mark" – 3:07 (Bonus Track, digital download only)
# "Snow" – 2:57 (Bonus Track, digital download only)

References